Sister Mary Pauline Pasierb died Oct. 15, 2016, in Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. She was 84.

The former Sophie Pasierb was born Jan. 1, 1932, in Tarnopol, Poland. After leaving Poland as a refugee, she lived in Iran, Pakistan and Mexico before coming to live at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for Children in Cheektowaga. She joined the Felician Sisters in 1948.

In 1953, Sister Mary Pauline became an American citizen. She professed perpetual vows in 1955. She received an associate of arts degree from Villa Maria College in Buffalo and a bachelor of science degree in education from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Sister Mary Pauline began serving at St. Rita's Home for Children in Getzville, also serving children at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for Children. In 1959, she began teaching at St. Hyacinth School in Dunkirk, and went on to teach in diocesan schools for a total of 16 years.

In 1982, Sister Pauline began helping with laundry at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Provincial House in Buffalo, where she stayed for five years. After briefly serving in other capacities at the house, she became its laundry supervisor until 1996. After this, she served as an aide and sacristan and in other ministries at St. Francis Residence, the provincial house and the Felician Sisters' Health and Wellness Center, now known as the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, in Buffalo. 

From 1999 to 2001, she served in parish ministry at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Akron. She became a patient in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center in 2012.

Sister Pauline is survived by a sister, Józefa Daugielewicz, in Poland; two cousins, Thomas and Mira, and her siblings' families.

A funeral Mass was held in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent chapel in Buffalo, followed by burial in St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Cheektowaga.